Ren Yi could completely understand Gong Yingxian’s shock and anger at that moment. He comforted him, “Yingxian, calm down. Are you at the scene?”
“I’m on my way there.” Gong Yingxian’s voice was still trembling. “What about you?”
“I’m on the way too. Do you know what’s happening at the scene?”
“All I know is that the explosion happened in Zhou Chuan’s hospital room.” Gong Yingxian was breathing heavily, his teeth clenched. “The rooms on the west side have collapsed. Zhou Chuan has almost no chance of survival. Those bastards… those animals…”
They had only just caught a vague glimpse of the criminal organization, and the other side had already killed a witness to destroy the evidence.
Zhou Chuan might have been their biggest breakthrough at this stage, so his death was a major blow to Gong Yingxian.
And now innocent civilians had been caught up in it as well.
“They did this because they’re cornered. They planned it in such a short time, so they’re bound to have left behind plenty of flaws.”
Ren Yi reassured him in a firm voice, “Don’t worry. You’re one step closer to catching them.”
Gong Yingxian took a deep breath.
“How much longer until you get there?”
“Six or seven minutes, probably. You?”
“About the same.”
Gong Yingxian hesitated.
“Don’t hang up.”
“What?”
“Just don’t hang up.”
Hearing Ren Yi’s voice, Gong Yingxian could feel the fury that had been building toward an explosion gradually settling down.
“Okay. I won’t hang up.”
Ren Yi’s voice unconsciously became gentler.
The firefighters sitting in the same vehicle all looked at Ren Yi strangely.
Ren Yi gave a light cough.
“Have they pulled up the hospital’s blueprints and fire emergency plans?”
“Here.”
Ding Qing handed the tablet to Ren Yi.
Ren Yi took it and looked through it while speaking quietly.
“Do you know anything else about the hospital?”
“The auxiliary officer stationed outside the hospital room has gone missing.”
Gong Yingxian’s voice was heavy.
“I’m afraid… something bad happened to him.”
“Not necessarily. Let’s wait until we get there and see the condition of the collapse.”
“Our original plan was to go to the hospital tomorrow. After all the work we’ve done recently, Zhou Chuan was already about to start talking. We didn’t expect them to make the first move.”
“Looks like Zhou Chuan knew even more than we thought. Once he talked, the police would have been able to catch Red Flame. That’s why Red Flame was willing to take such a desperate risk.”
“He’s more dangerous than Chen Pei. Chen Pei is just a street thug who works for money. At most, he puts on a tough act. But this guy dares to blow up a hospital and murder a witness.”
Gong Yingxian’s voice was vicious.
“That animal deserves to die.”
A few minutes later, the fire truck arrived at Hongwu Hospital.
Several police cars and ambulances were parked in front of the hospital.
They were the first station to arrive.
Ren Yi looked toward the inpatient building in the distance.
The west side of the four-story building had begun collapsing from the second floor. The first floor had already been crushed beneath it. The third and fourth floors were still roughly intact, but they were severely tilted, the walls covered in cracks.
A huge fissure had even been torn through the building.
Someone was waving clothes from a window and shouting for help.
Inside the hospital, an evacuation was underway.
The scene was in complete chaos.
Ren Yi’s expression was grim.
He knew tonight was going to be a tough battle.
“Turn on the lights!”
The driver switched on the fireground lighting equipment mounted on the fire truck.
A powerful beam illuminated the collapsed structure, revealing the horrifying state of the scene.
“Captain Ren, there seems to be someone here! I can hear something!”
One of the firefighters pointed toward the rubble.
“Sun Dingyi, take First and Second Squad and start digging.”
Ren Yi gave his orders.
“Third Squad, raise the aerial ladder. Get the people upstairs down first. No one is to enter deeper into the building without my order.”
“Yes, sir!”
The firefighters from the first and second squads began carrying rubble away, while the aerial ladder slowly moved toward the window where someone was calling for help.
A man in a white coat approached Ren Yi.
“Captain Ren, right? I’m the vice president. My surname is Song. I’m on duty today.”
Ren Yi was still studying the floor plan.
“President Song, do you know how many people are trapped in the collapsed section?”
“At least sixty or seventy.”
President Song spoke anxiously.
“Some of them are patients who can’t move on their own.”
“Are you able to contact any medical staff?”
“Yes. There are medical workers trapped on the third and fourth floors. As for the first and second floors…”
President Song fought back tears.
“We don’t know what their situation is.”
“Ren Yi!”
Gong Yingxian, who had just arrived at the scene, ran toward him.
Qiu Yan, Cai Qiang, and the others were with him.
When Ren Yi saw Gong Yingxian, he inexplicably felt somewhat reassured.
When their eyes met, emotions that were difficult to describe surged between them.
Ren Yi nodded at Gong Yingxian.
“Organize your people to search the surrounding area as quickly as possible. It’s been less than twenty minutes since the explosion. The perpetrator could still be nearby, watching.”
“We already dispatched a large number of officers immediately.”
Qiu Yan replied.
Gong Yingxian said, “If we can determine what kind of bomb was used, it’ll be much more helpful in catching the perpetrator.”
“We probably won’t know until we start excavating. We—”
The sirens of another fire truck sounded in the distance, one after another.
Ren Yi patted Gong Yingxian on the arm.
“Our chief of staff is here.”
A fire patrol vehicle pulled up in front of Ren Yi.
Xu Jin got out.
Another person stepped out of the back seat—
Chen Xiaofei.
The captains of Luoxiangkou Station and Sanning Station, Wang Meng and Lin Shaoping, also arrived one after another.
“Captain. Chief of Staff.”
Ren Yi saluted and handed them the tablet, briefly explaining the situation at the scene.
Chen Xiaofei surveyed the area.
“The detectors and search-and-rescue dogs will be here soon. Wang Meng, drive your aerial platform truck around to the back of the building and assist Phoenix Station in evacuating the civilians from the third and fourth floors.”
“Shaoping, take two men and enter from the third floor to assess the situation. Don’t go too deep. Watch your safety.”
“Old Xu, Ren Yi, let’s study the building plans.”
“Yes, sir.”
They walked around the collapsed section several times, first observing the damage from outside.
This inpatient building was one of the earliest buildings constructed at Hongwu Hospital.
The floors were low and the facilities relatively outdated, but the internal structure was simple: straight corridors with rooms arranged on either side.
To avoid disturbing the other patients, Zhou Chuan’s room had been placed at the end of the western corridor.
The collapse caused by the explosion was also concentrated mainly around the last few rooms.
It had not damaged the main structural framework.
That was already a blessing in disguise.
Before long, Lin Shaoping’s voice came through the radio.
“Captain Chen, we’ve basically assessed the situation on the third floor. The western emergency stairwell has been completely destroyed, so there’s no way down to the second floor from there.”
“The steel structure on the third floor is currently bearing pressure from above and below. So far, it still appears stable, but we can’t rule out a secondary collapse.”
“Also, I saw firelight on the second floor through a crack in the third floor. I don’t know whether the explosion ignited something.”
Everyone looked toward the building.
There was no visible fire.
That meant the fire was still small.
Chen Xiaofei said, “To be safe, notify the hospital to shut off the main power and heating pipes. Shaoping, get your people out.”
At that moment, using the aerial ladder and elevated platform, the firefighters evacuated all thirty-six trapped people from the third and fourth floors.
Other than one person who was seriously injured, none had sustained life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, the first and second squads also rescued a woman who had been buried beneath the rubble and quickly sent her to the emergency room.
President Song said anxiously, “Captain Chen, we can shut off the heating, but we can’t completely cut the power. There are patients inside who depend on ventilators, and there are also surgeries currently being performed in the operating rooms.”
“Find the electrician. See if you can at least cut the power to the collapsed section as much as possible.”
“There’s already a fire inside. If the wiring shorts out, you’ll lose power sooner or later anyway. You need to prepare in advance.”
President Song quickly nodded.
“I’ll find the electrician.”
Chen Xiaofei called the three station captains over.
He said seriously, “There are still a large number of patients and medical personnel trapped on the first and second floors.”
“The structure leading down from the third floor has already been destroyed, so we can only enter through cracks in the structure from the first or second floors to conduct the search and rescue.”
“This mission is extremely dangerous. Be careful not to increase the structural load. Do not go too deep.”
He emphasized, “I want everyone to hear this clearly. Do not go too deep. The moment you see any signs of collapse, withdraw immediately.”
The three men answered in unison.
“Yes, sir!”
“Each of you take two firefighters. Split into three teams. No team is to operate alone.”
“If you find any injured people, report it immediately. Don’t rush to rescue them. First determine whether the conditions are safe enough for a rescue.”
“The remaining personnel will stay outside. I’ll arrange for them to clear and transport the rubble.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Captain Chen.”
Ren Yi turned his head.
Gong Yingxian was standing beside them.
No one knew when he had come over.
Gong Yingxian said calmly, “Captain Chen, I’m Gong Yingxian, a detective with the First Criminal Investigation Unit of Hongwu District Police Sub-bureau. I request permission to enter with them.”
Ren Yi’s eyes widened.
“Gong Yingxian?!”
Gong Yingxian glanced at him calmly.
“Firefighting and rescue will inevitably damage evidence at the scene. I want the most original evidence possible.”
“And identifying the explosive as early as possible is critical to catching the perpetrator. If we wait several days until the rubble is cleared before analyzing the explosive, we’ll miss the best opportunity.”
Ren Yi grabbed Gong Yingxian by the shoulder and pushed him backward.
“Catching criminals is your job, but rescue is mine. Why are you sticking your nose into this?”
Looking at Gong Yingxian’s serious, determined eyes, Ren Yi could not help feeling anxious.
Searching through a collapsed building was far too dangerous.
How could he possibly let Gong Yingxian risk his life alongside him?
Chen Xiaofei frowned.
“Young man, we each have our own responsibilities. You’re not a professional rescue worker. Don’t interfere with our work.”
Gong Yingxian grabbed Ren Yi by the wrist.
Whether intentionally or not, he pressed Ren Yi’s palm firmly against his own chest.
Looking at Chen Xiaofei, his gaze was sharp.
“The explosion was caused by the murder of the key witness in a case I’m investigating. He was silenced.”
“What’s buried beneath that rubble isn’t just the truth the perpetrator wants to conceal.”
“It’s also my colleague, innocent civilians, the justice owed to the residents who were killed or injured at Wanyuan Residential Complex, and the justice owed to the firefighters you lost!”
The entire scene fell silent.
Ren Yi gritted his teeth.
“Gong Yingxian, I know you’re anxious. I’m anxious too. But do you know how dangerous it is in there? That isn’t—”
“If I’m afraid of danger, what kind of cop would I be?!”
Gong Yingxian shouted sharply.
Ren Yi stared into Gong Yingxian’s reddened eyes.
Neither of them was willing to back down.
Ren Yi’s hand was still pressed against Gong Yingxian’s chest.
Through the thick gloves, through Gong Yingxian’s coat for the beginning of winter, he could somehow still feel the powerful beating of his heart.
“Captain Chen.”
A middle-aged man walked over.
He had a rugged face and a sturdy build. At a glance, he was clearly a tough, no-nonsense man.
Ren Yi had seen him twice at the Hongwu District Police Sub-bureau.
He was Zhao Pengfei, captain of the First Criminal Investigation Unit.
“Captain Chen, let him go.”
“This case is now the top priority for our sub-bureau. The perpetrator has been involved in at least three arson cases and is also connected to a criminal organization.”
Zhao Pengfei lifted his chin toward the collapsed building.
“And now this… involves at least double-digit casualties.”
“Even if we can catch him one day earlier, we’re willing to take the risk.”
Chen Xiaofei sighed.
“Old Zhao, you’re making this difficult for me.”
Xu Jin said quietly, “Captain, Ren Yi has been helping them investigate the arson cases. There’s a criminal organization specializing in arson behind them, and that organization is our common enemy.”
“Now that the only witness has been killed, I understand how they feel.”
Zhao Pengfei said solemnly, “Old Chen, there’s also a young police officer buried in there.”
“We desperately need clues. We need to catch the perpetrator.”
“Please help us.”
Ren Yi clenched his trembling fists.
Helplessly, he watched as Chen Xiaofei finally nodded.
He grabbed Gong Yingxian.
“Come with me. We’re changing clothes.”
The two of them jumped onto the fire truck.
Ren Yi shut the door, then shoved Gong Yingxian down into a seat.
“Why do you insist on doing these life-threatening things?!”
“The last time that chemical tanker overturned was the same. Why do you always insist on putting yourself in danger?!”
Gong Yingxian glared at him fiercely.
“What about you?”
“Why do you insist on doing these life-threatening things? Why do you insist on putting yourself in danger?!”
“This is my job!”
“This is my job too!”
Gong Yingxian raised his voice.
“My job is to fight crime at all costs.”
Ren Yi was so angry that his face flushed red.
The two of them sat facing each other in the cramped space.
Their knees and gazes inevitably collided.
They could even feel each other’s heavy breaths against their faces.
Gong Yingxian looked at Ren Yi’s flushed face, his tightly pressed lips, and his rising and falling chest.
Those beautiful eyes were filled with concern for him, yet there was also a hint of anger and hurt between his brows.
Gong Yingxian’s heart jolted violently.
His blood inexplicably began to race.
An unfamiliar sensation stirred restlessly inside him.
He suddenly became extremely flustered.
Ren Yi threw a fluorescent orange rescue suit at him.
“Put it on.”
Gong Yingxian did not catch it.
“I don’t wear other people’s clothes… I want to wear yours.”
Ren Yi rolled his eyes so hard they nearly hurt.
He roughly stripped off the clothes he was wearing and threw them at Gong Yingxian again.
Gong Yingxian changed into the rescue suit that still carried Ren Yi’s body heat.
The sensation of being gently wrapped in Ren Yi’s warmth calmed his emotions.
Ren Yi changed as well.
He said seriously, “Gong Yingxian, listen carefully. From this moment on, you must strictly obey my orders.”
“I’m not saying this casually. You must follow my instructions exactly. Understand?”
“Understood.”
“Swear it. Swear that you absolutely will not act on your own and that you will obey my orders.”
Ren Yi emphasized each word.
“Normally, I can listen to whatever you say. But not during a rescue. If you act on your own, you won’t just put your own life in danger—you could endanger everyone else too. So…”
Gong Yingxian suddenly raised a hand and placed it against Ren Yi’s cheek.
He gazed into Ren Yi’s eyes and said solemnly,
“I swear. I will obey your orders.”
Ren Yi’s heart gave two hard thumps.
He turned his face away, trying to hide his reaction, and took a deep breath.
“Let’s go.”